But after 11 years, 45,000 lights and $25,000 raised for Princess Margaret Hospital, the retirees have chosen to scale back the display.

The home ” at 31 Comstock Way ” will still feature a dozen of Gyula’s own handmade displays and about 30,000 lights.

‘I was going to stop altogether, but I changed my mind because I thought if I stopped altogether, I might end up in Graylands because you have to do something physically and mentally, and enjoy every minute to create something new,’ Mr Novak said.

‘A lot of effort, work and time went into it, but I enjoyed every minute.’

When the couple started in 2002, they had just one string of lights and one Santa, but by the time they were finished, their collection took up half the garage and an entire bedroom.

Though he has sold his home-wired seesaw, merry-go-round and train track, Mr Novak kept a set of displays that are activated by picking up a phone.